One day I would like to try Chicago. I know about the snow and all that, but something about that city appeals to me.

I know this goes outside of the parameters of the post, but I wouldn't mind giving Canada a try either. Montreal would be nice--I could practice my rusty college French. And I must say that Canadians are definately the nicest funniest people in the world.

(As far as countries--even more outside of the parameters--I have always dreamed of living in France.)

Truthfully though, I doubt I will ever leave the Bay Area again. My roots are pretty deep at this point.

Chicago and Montreal are actually two of my favorite cities. Chicago has the river walk and a friendly, albeit fast-paced vibe, but it's in the middle of nowhere. Montreal has great restaurants and nightlife, and the underground city is very cool.

The only real dealbreaker with both of these places is the COLD winters!

@StephSF: An underground city? Wow that sounds fantastic. Yet another reason to try to visit there one day.

I personally love the cold weather--I much prefer it to the heat, which makes the summer we're having kind of ideal for me. Hot weather makes it difficult for me to write. Cold is ideal for getting a nice cup of coffee and writing into the night.

The snow is one of the things I miss about New York. I used to love sitting on the radiator and watching the fresh flakes falling through the lamp light outside our apartment on 1st Avenue. It was like 20 different snow globes.

SF is supposed to have an underground transportation system that's supposed to be like the Loop in London.

I have adjusted to SF weather, but if I had to pick a city that's another favorite, it would be San Diego. The weather is always great, and although they seem to be stuck in the 80's (I love the 80s!), there is just so much to see. It also doesn't seem as congested as the bay area or los angeles.

Yet another place I haven't really been to. Other than La Jolla and the Zoo, what else is there to see in San Diego? (Maybe this is just my impression but I've always thought of San Diego kind of the way I think of Sacramento, as not a completely full grown city--more of a distant suburb of LA, like OC south. Maybe its just me.)

Yeah, Montreal is pretty cool. The underground city is a whole network of shopping centers and subway systems that essentially form exactly that. It's kind of like a really high-end Penn Station - at every stop. And I believe you can walk huge distances under there as well, although it's not something I've experimented with much.

@FlowerGirl - San Diego is a far cry from Sacramento. The downtown area has some great shopping and a whole nightlife scene, and the Mexican influences in the area are prevalent. The three major colleges (USD, UCSD and San Diego State) make it a great place for young people.

The city is chock full of parks, and beaches are obviously a huge part of the culture as well. It is just a really nice, pleasant place to be.

Also, anywhere by the Ocean already has a big advantage on somewhere that is landlocked (I know that you can get to the ocean from Sacramento--but you know what I mean). Sacramento is more like Riverside or Bakersfield--if the capitol weren't there we wouldn't even pay attention to it, I don't think.

Good point @Nightowl, good way to put it. The one thing that I sometimes miss about Sacramento is that it is actually hot there in the summer. It does get a bit unbearable at times, but it is nice to know that it is summertime (unlike SF, where you can be freezing in July). It doesn't lend itself well to being outdoor for extended periods of time, though, unless you are into water sports.

The other major redeeming factor is the proximity to Tahoe. I could day trip to the mountains, ski, and come back to my orange groves the same night. But overall, I don't miss it.

@NightOwInOrinda - Bakersfield is like the armpit of California. Sacramento at least tries to have a cute downtown and although it can be unbearably hot, it has more to offer than some other remote cities in CA. @StephSF - proximity to Tahoe - good point!